Police in the North claim they have struck a major blow against loyalist paramilitaries following two separate operations in Belfast and North Down.
Eight arrests were made in North Down last night when police say they stopped a car acting suspiciously in the Ballymiscaw Road area of Craigantlet, between Belfast and Newtownards. Police are investigating a possible connection with the UVF.
The men were taken for questioning to Strandtown in East Belfast and to Lisburn.
During the operation police say they recovered a shotgun, a pistol and other items which have been taken for forensic examination.
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable, Alan McQuillan, says the arrests are part of a long-term operation which has been going on for months to clamp down on the activities of paramilitary groups.
In a separate operation in Belfast city centre yesterday, police arrested three men believed to be UDA members.
